A good painting contractor will produce better results than most DIYers—and finish faster. But because they don't have to pay for their own labor, lots of homeowners grab rollers and brushes. Before taking the painting plunge, consider the following.

Most of us have made unwise furniture purchases that a bit of planning would have prevented. Before shopping, evaluate your budget, how you’ll use the furniture, how it fits in with your other furniture and tastes, and other considerations.

No matter your fix-it skillset and toolset, every do-it-yourselfer also needs a reliable hardware store at the ready—preferably one that charges reasonable prices. Our ratings of area hardware stores for quality and price should help you find one.

When it comes to decking out your windows, you’ll find so many choices, optional features, and price ranges that it’s easy to get blindsided by the process. Here’s our advice on how to buy the right stuff.

Plantation shutters. Roman shades. Curtains. There are so many ways to cover your windows that it’s tempting to just tape newspaper over the panes and be done with it. Here’s a primer on the best options to block the light, keep prying eyes at bay, or just dress up the joint.

For many types and brands of window treatments, it really pays to shop around. We report here costs quoted to Checkbook’s undercover shoppers when they sought prices for several types of window treatments at a sampling of local stores and online outlets.